Howdy! I'm brand new to the NAM and I'm trying to solve a problem with my headlights in a 2003 Cooper S. On passenger side the low beam Xenon won't come on. The high beam on that side does work. The problem is intermittent. The low beam will work for two or three weeks, then it won't. Swapped the bulbs and the Xenon bulb from the flaky side works in the good side. Bulb from good side won't work in the flaky side. Swapped control modules - they both work in the good side. Neither work in the flaky side. Checked fuses in engine compartment- all good.

Only thing I haven't done is take headlight ***'y. completely out of the car to try to get at what I believe is the "Igniter" or ballast module inside. Can this be replaced if I take the headlight out of the car? Anyone ever have problems with their Xenon headlights?

Keep the rubber side down!

 

Ditto.

Sounds like you've done a bit of troubleshooting.

On warm days, both lights ignite fine. On a cold morning, the flaky light on my car will ignite only after several on/off cycles. Yours?

 

I had exactly this problem. Took the dealership three goes.
Have them check the igniter.
They have to replace the whole headlight unit (>$1200 Can!).

Britgeezerincanada.

 

Yeah - this things a pain. Who ever thought you'd potentially be spending $1200 just to fix a damn headlight. The light in question has been working now for the last two weeks. Just started working. Going to wait until it goes bad again - then take headlight out of car and take apart to see if I can get to the igniter ballast to change it out. Located a headlight unit on some website for $450 (probably doesn't include the bulb).

BD

 

I've noticed a trend with this problem and wonder if anyone else can confirm a similar observation?

First, the light will ignite after the car has warmed up or been driven.

Second, I just noticed that if I rev the car up to about 2500rpm for 15-20 seconds or so (letting the charging system build up current in the electrical system) THEN turn on the headlights, then the passenger side light will ignite... as if the ignitor needed to build up some current before it would work.

I've been able to get the headlight to ignite first try by doing this.

 

Thought this would help you guys.


SUBJECT
Xenon Headlamp Failure

MODEL
R50 (Cooper), R53 (Cooper S) with option 522 (Xenon headlamps)
Vehicles produced March 1, 2004 to June 30, 2004.

SITUATION
Xenon light is intermittently inoperative - either one or both headlamps.

CAUSE
Xenon headlamps and control unit supplied by AL (Automotive Lighting).

CORRECTION
Notes:
This Service Information only refers to headlamps supplied by AL (Automotive Lighting). For headlamps supplied by ZKW, carry out the regular troubleshooting for the xenon system.
Individual parts from different manufacturers are not compatible with each other. Do not mix parts from AL and ZKW.
This Service Information depends on the production date of the headlamp and whether there is a green dot on the yellow parts label on the AL headlamp. The production date is shown in the format yy.mm.dd above the bar code.
Case A:
Green dot on the parts sticker on the failed headlamp, continue regular troubleshooting on the xenon light.
Case B:
No green dot on the parts sticker on the failed headlamp:

If both headlamps have failed:
The xenon control unit and xenon bulb from the failed headlamps must be replaced.

If only one headlamp has failed:
Replace the xenon control unit and xenon bulb from the failed headlamp. Also replace the xenon control unit from the other lamp as a precautionary measure. It is not necessary to replace the xenon bulb in the other lamp.
NOTES about installing AL components (indicated by the AL suffix in the EPC):
Control unit P/N 63 12 6 912 114 - Only install a control unit with a production date later than 3rd February 2005. The production date is shown in the format dd.mm.yy below the bar code on the white label.
Control unit P/N 63 12 0 406 709 (or its successor) – no additional checks necessary.
In cases where a complete headlamp replacement is necessary, only install headlamps with a production date later than 14th February 2005 or headlamps that have a green dot next to the MINI part number on the yellow parts label. The production date is shown in the format yy.mm.dd above the bar code on the yellow label. The green dot identifies headlamps that have been repaired by the supplier and are now equipped with a defect-free control unit even though they were manufactured before 14th February 2005.

 

Sorry....double post

 

Good intel, FSTMINI.

Is there by chance a similar notice about 2003's?

3 days in a row I've been able to get the light to ignite 1st try by above method.

 

Thats the only one that comes up.

 

I have started to have this problem on my 03 MCS. Constant passenger side xenon failure. I have to turn the switch on and off a few time to get it lit. That is, if it decides to light up. and just seems to get worse from day to day.

MINIUSA--
are you starting to see a trend with the 03's? there have been many posts on the 03 MCS passenger side Xenon failing. Are there any answers to this other than a $1000 fix?

Here are a few other threads
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...enon+headlight

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=56024

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=100695

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...enon+headlight

 

Had this on me driver light in an 05 MCS. Wiggling the connection wire got it to kick on though this was not the root issue. Final fix was the dealer replacing the whole assembly. Works great now.

 

Thanks for looking, 1FSTMINI.

@ Golden Child: Thanks for the links. I think I've looked and even posted on one of them. Since you're starting to see this problem too and have an 03 like me, would you mind testing my theory? When you start up, turn off all electricall accessories, run the motor up to about 2500 rpm for 15 or more seconds, then see if you get the light to consistantly light?

I'm starting to believe there is an electrical leak somewhere... like there are capacitors in the system that are going bad, which need to be run back up to full charge before the lamp will light.

Thanks a bunch!

 

had this problem too brought it to dealership, they replaced it under warranty.

 

I had this issue with GBMINI#2:
http://www.gbmini.net/mtblog/archive...blind_in.shtml
http://www.gbmini.net/mtblog/archive...ther_mak.shtml

The headlight was apparently sensitive to moisture and would not ignite when damp. After 10-20 minutes, if I stopped & restarted, it would work properly (presumably engine heat had dried it out).

 

Just got back from all the holiday activities. Good to see I'm not alone in this. I continue to troubleshoot the problem. Based on the comments by BluMiniMe I've taken to trying different things other than direct swapping of components. The light in question continues to be flaky. I had a run of about two weeks with the thing working reliably. Turned them on the other day and passenger side didn't fire up. With car running at normal idle I switched them off and on about four times and what do you know - passenger side came on. This seems to work but I don't like doing this to the system - not supposed to be good for the bulbs. This kind of failure is almost certainly an electrical component going bad. As I've said - the only thing I haven't changed is the ballast module inside the headlight assembly since it's such a pain to access. Anyone else who has gone the component swap out method and has tried the ballast? Would appreciate knowing if the thing is accessable once you pull the headlight out of the car.

 

BluMiniMe--

I tried to see if that was the case by trying your suggestion but it didn't work.

thanks for the suggestion.

golden_child

 

Thanks for trying, GC. Thought I was on to something there.....

It got colder here, and my observance and theory were shot to h3ll.

Once Blu gets up to operating temp, it happens much less, though.

Happy New Year!

 

I have an 03 MC and had the transmission replaced last year from Auto to 6 Speed. Now I'm noticing that my passenger side headlight work sometimes and sometimes doesn't. When it is on, it's dimmer than the driver side light. I was attributing it to a loose wire, and thought that when I would hit pot holes it would loosen the wire. I'm not sure if some of the electrical stuff from the transmission replacement triggered this or what. I just get in it and hope that the light comes on usually.

As of last week my driver side brake light has been working only sometimes. I'm not sure what's going on. Don't want to spend another small fortune replacing something that I really need

 

I think what you need to do is splice a new harness into the wires,
i did this on mine and it has fixed the on/off problem!

 

Don't know if this will help, but my '03 MCS had the exact same problem, and it turned out to be water in the housing. It was coming in around the rubber boot at the back of the housing. The water got in there because a plug was missing off the fender liner. You could drill a small hole in the bottom of the housing and see if any water leaks out. Once everything dries out your problem will probably go away, provided no other parts are faulty.